A vigil was held in Reading on Saturday to remember those killed and injured in the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.

More than 200 people attended the event, which was organised by Reading Pride, in front of the Reading Town Hall in the town centre.

A total of 49 people were killed and 53 were injured at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, America on Sunday, June 12.

Patron of Reading Pride and former Mayor of Reading Councillor Sarah Hacker said: "We can never truly understand why Omar Mateen chose to commit this awful atrocity but what we do know is that it was hate that was his motivation.

Watch the video above from the event

"It’s at times like this that we are reminded how the LGBT+ community is still a target for those driven by ignorance and hatred and it’s at times like these we need to gather as a community to show the love and respect we have for each other.

"We must reach out to those who are fearful, educate those who are ignorant and not be afraid to challenge harmful attitudes. Our children must be taught about love and not have their heads filled with hate."

"A hate crime"

Jamie Wake, who organises the annual hate crime vigil in Reading, said: "While the atrocities in Orlando that have horrified us all was an act of terror, it was also a homophobic and transphobic attack - a hate crime.

"Some media outlets have downplayed the gay hate involved in this attack and even the Pope made a statement without acknowledging that the victims were LGBT and yet this was the biggest attack in modern history that targeted the LGBT community - our community."